Rights, Equality and Empowerment Celebrated At An Cosán’s International Women’s Day Lunch
The transformative power of education was celebrated at An Cosán’s International Women’s Day lunch on Friday 7th March at Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel. Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan hosted the annual gathering in what is a very important fundraising event for the organisation as it approaches its fortieth year. The lunch continues to be an inspiring occasion that goes from strength to strength with this year being the biggest yet, attended by almost 300 guests.
Tallaght’s Lisa Keating was met with a standing ovation after she shared the story of her learning journey from hopelessness and despair to confidence and achievement. Her determination was evident as she recounted how she came to An Cosán when she decided to turn her life around in the dark days of 2020. “I came from poverty. I struggled all my life, my parents were poor, and we had to put all our effort into getting by,” Lisa said. “The thing with An Cosán is that it’s not just that you can take those gentle steps back, it’s that they wrap their arms around you and give you the support you need.”
“I’m going to make something of myself because that potential was always in me, but it was An Cosán that lifted me up and let me find it. Unlocking a whole new future for me and my boys,” Lisa continued.
Reflecting on the many systemic barriers faced by women, An Cosán CEO Heydi Foster said, “The women that are the very special focus of our work in An Cosán are those left furthest behind. It is our job to ensure they have the help they need and the opportunity they deserve. People ask me sometimes what ‘privilege’ means. And I say to them privilege isn’t in what you’ve gone through. It’s what – thankfully – you haven’t had to go through.”
She continued: “Our women, our learners, they have had to go through so much. We fight for them. We prize the futures that we can help them create.”
Also speaking at the event, Anna Durkan, Chair, An Cosán thanked attendees for their support and highlighted the impact the organisation has: “A core principle of An Cosán is that educating women transforms lives—not just their own but also their families and communities. Education is a proven pathway out of poverty, breaking cycles of deprivation for generations to come. This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, while emphasizing the work still needed to create a more equitable world.”
An Cosán offers a wide range of courses, including Access and Further Education classes as well as Early Years Education and Care, Counselling and a range of Learner and Digital supports to enable success. The organisation also offers Higher Education programmes delivered blended or online nationally.
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